Airplane



April 21, 1931.

Filed Sept. 25, 1929 14 4k 63 49 F|G.3. (q I 29 2 2 u 4a |2 7 47 26INVENTOR S. T. ALLEN B WAMW ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 21, 1931 SHERMAN 'r.ALLEN, F BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA AIRPLANE Application filed September25, 1929. Serial No. 395,130.

This invention'rela'tes to air craft,and has for an object the provisionof anovel and efliciently operating type of airplane.

A more detailed object is theprovision of an airplane composed of asingle wing or airfoil and having a wind tunnel extending therethrou'ghin parallelism with the direction of normal flight, this wind tunnelbeingadapted to confine the slip stream of the promounted within thetunnel.

A further objectisthe provision of anairplane having a wind tunnelextending'longitudinally therethrough, there being a plural- 5 ity ofpropellers operatively mounted within the wind tunnel and coupled to acommon drive shaft so that several propellers are adaptedto be poweredby a single prime mover.

A further object is the provision of an airplane having a longitudinallyextending wind tunnel as described, intersected by'a verticallyextendingwind tunnel. The propellers are mounted within the intersectionof the tunnels and are so arranged that they maybe swung so as to bringtheir axes of rotation peller or propellers which are operativelyoptionally into alignment witheither of the tunnels, with the resultthat the propellers may be employed to lower or lift the craftvertically toor from a suitable landingplace,

or they may be employed to propel the airplane horizontally. p -Afurther object is the provision of an airplane as described, in whichthe propellers may be swung from one position to the other duringflight. 4

A still further object is the provision of suitable mechanism wherebysuliicient mechanical advantage may be gained to develop therelativelyheavy forces necessary for turning the propellers from oneposition to the other. 7

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some ofwhich, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the inventions particular embodiment which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification. VV a Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an airplane ncorporating the principlesof the present lnvention, portions being broken away to better disclosethe internal construction. The propellers are shown in position to drivethe airplane horizontally. i

Fig. 2 is a top plan View and showing the propellers in the positionsassumed thereby wllilen capable oflifting the airplane vertica y.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, Vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon the line H of Fig. 3, with the direction of view as indicated.

In its preferred embodiment, the airplane of the present invention asindicated upon the figures of the drawing, is designed as an amphibianairplane, inasmuch as it is capable of arising from, and alighting upon,either land 70 or water. However, it'is to be understood that it isaltogether within the scope of the present invention to embody theinvention in different types of construction so as to adapt it for usein land planes and hydroplanes.

The modification herein disclosed, is in the form of a single enlargedwing 6 approximately two and a half times greater in width than inlength, and having rounded ends 7. An aileron 8 is suitably mountedWithin the 30 after edge 9 of the wing 6 upon each side of the centerthereof; and a vertical rudder '11 is disposed adjacent the after edge 9midway between the ends 7.

Whereas the upper surface 12 of the wing 6 is substantially straight inrespect to the transverse dimensions of the airplane, the un der surface13 diverges downward therefrom from the ends 7, withtl1e result that thewing 6 is materially thinner adjacent the ends 7 than at points spacedfrom the ends. Furthermore, an enlarged portion 14 extends downward fromthe under surface 13, midway between the ends 7. In the amphibian typeofplane, this enlarged portion 14 serves as the-pontoon whereby theairplane is enabled to rest upon the surface of a bodyof water.Preferably however, a suitable folding landing-gear 16 is disposedwithin recesses within the under side of the enlarged portion 14, thislanding-gear 16 being of such a nature that it may be extended whendesired to permit the airplane to alight upon land and take offtherefrom.

The enlarged portion 14 accommodates a longitudinally extending windtunnel 21 extending the entire length of the wing 6, and also a pilothouse 22 immediately thereabove adjacent the forward edge of the wing 6.

Also upon each side of the wind tunnel 21,

passenger and/or freight-carrying compartments 23 are provided.

A vertical wind tunnel 26 intersects the horizontal wind tunnel 21 andextends completely through the wing 6 and enlarged portion 14.Preferably a pair of shafts 27 in alignment with each other, arejourna-lled transversely of the tunnels 21 and 26 within theirintersection, each shaft 27 having a suit- 'able prime mover 28operatively coupled and preferably they are arranged in pairs,i.e.,

the shaft 34 of each propeller 33, is in axial alignment with the shaft34 of another propeller 33 ournalled in the opposite end bar 32.Rotation is imparted to the propellers 33 from the shafts 27, by meansof mitre gears 36 carried by the shafts 27, each mitre gear 36 beingenmeshed with preferably the mitre gears 37 carried by both alignedpropeller shafts 34 of one pair of propellers. Inasmuch as this methodof driving the propellers 33 will result in the propellers of each pairbeing driven in opposite directions, the pro pellers upon one side ofthe frame 29 are of left hand pitch, whereas the opposite propellers areof right hand pitch.

A relatively large worm wheel 41 is made fast to the framework 29, andis engaged by a worm 42 which is carried by a shaft 43 which extendsforward into the pilot house where it is provided with a hand wheel 44or equivalent means for imparting rotation thereto.

Covers 46 and 47 are associated with the top and bottom of the verticalwind tunnel '26 respectively, each cover being slidably mounted so as topermit its being optionally placed in registration with the wind tunnel26 or withdrawn therefrom. Any suitable means for mounting the covers47, may be employed, such for example as guideways 48 having flanges 49adapted to slidably engage the outermost faces of the covers 46 and 47as the case may be. Each cover is provided with a rack 51 enmeshed by apinion 52 which is carried by a shaft 53 journalled within a.

suitable bearing 54 made fast to the structure of the wing 6. Each shaftcarries a mitre gear 56 which is enmeshed by another mitre gear 57carried by an operating shaft 58 which extends to a point closelyadjacent the forward edge of the wing 6, and which is also journalledwithin suitable bearings 59, and carries a mitre gear 61 enmeshed byanother mitre gear 62, which in turn is carried by a shaft 63. Theshafts 63 extend into the interior of the wing and are connected bysuitable mechanism (not shown) to operating mechanism accessible withinthe pilot house 22, whereby rotational movement may be imparted to theshafts 63, 58, and 53. to permit the operators of the airplane to shiftthe covers 46 and 47 to desired position.

The operation of the airplane of the present invention is substantiallyas follows:

When it is desired to take off in flight, the covers 46 and 47 are firstwithdrawn so as to leave the vertical air tunnel 26 open, and the handwheel 44 operated so as to turn the worm wheel 41 and framework 29 intothat position into which the axes of the propellers 33 are in alignmentwith the vertical wind tunnel 26. The motors 28 should then be startedto impart rotation to the propellers 33, as will be readily understood.Obviously, the direction of rotation should be such that the propellerswill lift the. airplane vertically upwards, the slip stream of thepropellers moving downwards through the vertical wind tunnel 26. Whensufficient altitude has been attained, the hand wheel 44 should again beoperated to turn the frame 29 so as to bring the axes of the propellers33 into alignment with the wind tunnel 21, i. e., into alignment withthe direction of normal flight. This, of course, will cause the slipstream to pass through the horizontal tunnel 21, the indraft entering atthe front of the tunnel and being expelled from the after end, andthus-cause the airplane to be driven forward. As the framework 29 isturned into horizontalposition, the covers 46 and 47 should be movedback, so as to close the tunnel 26 and thus enhance the streamlinedesign of the airplane. 1

The airplane may alight by soaring in the conventional manner, or bysettling vertically downwards, depending upon the conditions obtainingat the particular point where the pilot wishes to make landing. If thearea upon which he desires to land is relatively restricted, he shouldalight by again turning the framework into vertical position, andopening the vertical wind tunnel 26, and then gradually lessening thespeed of his motors so as to permit the airplane to settle. It isobvious therefore, that this arrangement will permit a safe landing tobe made upon a relatively small space, as well as to take off from sucha location.

Control during fiightis attained by means of the vertical rudder 11 andthe ailerons 8, in the conventional manner, it being understood thatthese airfoils may be operated by mechanism (not shown) accessiblewithin the pilot house 2:2. However, it is entirely within the scope ofthe invention to facilitate maneuvering of the airplane by increasingthe speed of one motor 28, and decreasing that of the other, so as toassist in turning the airplane toward the side of the slowed motor.

By constructing an airplane according to the principles of the presentinvention, the problem of efficient streamlining is materiallyfacilitated, inasmuch as the motive power including the motors andpropellers, as well as the passengers and freight compartments, andpilot house, are almost completely enclosed within the structure of asingle wing, necessitating only a relatively slight projection upon theunder surface thereof, in proportion to the over-all dimensions of thewing. The scarcity of angular projections and other structure conduciveto destroying streamline design, is best indicated upon Fig. 3; and thisfeature, coupled with the ability of alighting upon and taking off fromlanding spaces of relatively small area, imparts to the airplane of thepresent invention, a high degree of efficiency.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as hereindisclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An airplane comprising a wing, a horizontal wind tunnel extendingtherethrough parallel to the direction of flight, a vertical Wind tunnelextending through said wing and intersecting the horizontal tunnel, apropeller mounted within the intersection of said tunnels, means fordriving said propeller, and means for moving said propeller'to bring itsaxis of rotation optionally into alignment with either of said tunnels.

2. An airplane comprising a wing, a horizontal wind tunnel extendingtherethrough parallel to the direction of flight, a vertical wind tunnelextending through said wing and intersecting the horizontal tunnel, abank of propellers mounted within the intersection of said tunnels,means for driving said propellers, and means for moving said propellerstobring their axes of rotation op tionally intoalignment with either ofsaid tunnels.

3. An airplane comprising a wing, a horizontal wind tunnel extendingtherethrough parallel to the direction of flight, a vertical wind tunnelextending through said wing and intersecting the horizontal tunnel, abank of propellers mounted within the intersection of said tunnels,means for driving said propellers, and means for moving said propellerssimultaneously to bring their axes of; rotation optionally intoalignment with either of said tunnels.

4:."AII alrplane comprising a wlng, a horizontal wind tunnel extendingtherethrough parallel to the direction of flight, a vertical I Windtunnel extending through said wing and intersectingthe horizontaltunnel, means operable to optionally open or close said vertical'tunnel,a propeller mounted within the V,

intersection of said tunnels, means for driving said propeller, andmeans for moving said propeller to bring 1ts axis of rotation optionallyinto alignment with either of said 6. An airplane comprising a singlewing,

a fuselage extending longitudinally thereof and having a'longitudinaland a vertical wind tunnel intersecting therein, a shaft extendingtransversely of said tunnels at their intersection, a frame mounted forrotary movement about the axis of said shaft, a'

propeller journalled in said'frame for rotation about anaxisperpendicular to that of the shaft, means coupling said propellertotheshaft to be rotated thereby, and means for swinging said frame tobring the axis of saidpropeller optionally into alignment with either ofsaid tunnels.

7 An airplane comprising a single wing, a fuselage extendinglongitudinally thereof and having a longitudinal and a vertical windtunnel intersecting therein, a shaft extending transversely of saidtunnels at their intersection, a frame mounted for rotary movement aboutthe axis of said shaft, a bank of propellers journalled in said framefor rotation about axes perpendicular to that of the shaft, meanscoupling said propellers to the shaft to be rotated thereby, and meansfor swinging said frame to bring the axes of said propellers optionallyinto alignment with either of said tunnels.

. 8. An airplane comprising a single wing, a fuselage extendinglongitudinally thereof and having a longitudinal and a vertical windtunnel intersection therein, a shaft extending transversely of saidtunnels at their intersection, a frame mounted for rotary movement aboutthe axis of said shaft, a bank of propellers ournalled in said frame forrotation about axes perpendicular to that of the shaft, means couplingsaid propellers to the shaft to be rotated thereby, a worm wheel carriedby said frame, a Worm engaging said worm wheel, and means for turningsaid worm to swing said frame and bring the axes of said propellersoptionally into alignment. with either of said tunnels.

9. An airplane comprising a single wing, a fuselage extendinglongitudinally thereof and having a longitudinal and a vertical Windtunnel intersecting therein, a shaft extending transversely of saidtunnels at their intersection, a frame mouned for rotary movement aboutthe axis of said shaft, a bank of propellers journalled in said framefor rotation about axes perpendicular to that of the shaft, meanscoupling said propellers to the shaft to be rotated thereby, a wormwheel carried by said frame, a Worm engaging said worm wheel, means forturning said Worm to swing said frame and bring the axes of saidpropellers optionally into alignment with either of said tunnels, andmeans for optionally opening or closing said vertical tunnel.

10. An airplane comprising a single wing, a fuselage extendinglongitudinally thereof and having a longitudinal and a vertical windtunnel intersecting therein, a shaft extending transversely of saidtunnels at their intersection, a frame mounted for rotary movement aboutthe axis of said shaft, a bank of propellers journalled in said framefor rotation about axes perpendicular to that of the shaft, meanscoupling said propellers to the shaft to be rotated thereby, a wormWheel j carried by said frame, a worm engaging said worm wheel, meansfor turning said worm to swing said frame and bring the axes of saidpropellers optionally into alignment with either of said tunnels, a.slidably mounted cover associated with each end of said vertical tunnel,and means for moving said covers optionally into or out of register withsaid vertical tunnel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SHERMAN T. ALLEN.

